Honigman Partners Kelly T. Murphy and Fernando&nbspAlberdi,&nbspPh.D.,&nbsppresent the effects of America&nbspInvents&nbspAct&nbspat&nbspInternational&nbspBIO&nbspConference

Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP Partners Kelly T. Murphy and Fernando Alberdi, Ph.D., in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Department, recently participated in a panel entitled America Invents Act Comes to Campus: the Impact on Commercialization and Technology Transfer Offices at the 2012 BIO (Biological Industry Organization) International Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011 significantly changes U.S. patent law and will greatly impact the life science industry.

The panel discussed the new law’s effect on universities and non-profit research institutions and provided pragmatic approaches to meet the new requirements, while at the same time improving timely technological disclosures. Audience members praised the presentation for “its laser focus on key practice issues” and for the “insight provided into the effects on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institutes of Health (NIH).”

Murphy is located in Honigman’s Kalamazoo office. He counsels clients on government contracts, grants and procurement regulations, and assists in patent procurement, regulatory compliance and the negotiation of licensing agreements for domestic and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, nonprofits and academic institutions.

He earned a J.D. from Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America. Murphy also received an M.S. with an emphasis in molecular biology and a B.S. in biological sciences from Western Michigan University.

Alberdi is located in the firm’s Ann Arbor office. He counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, particularly in the areas of life science; chemical; and biopharmaceutical, bioengineering and biotechnological arts. Alberdi also assists clients in procuring and enforcing domestic and international patents; conducting intellectual property due diligence; and preparing legal opinions on patent validity and/or patent non-infringement.

He earned a J.D., magna cum laude, at Michigan State University College of Law. He earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Immunology and a B.App.Sc. Biotechnology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University.

About BIO

BIO is the world’s largest biotechnology organization. It is a 503c non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., which provides advocacy, business development, and communications services for more than 1,100 members worldwide